Same-Sex Marriage Is Now Legal. Here's Where the Candidates Stand.

Opinions remain split along party lines.

This morning, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. Five years ago, less than half of Americans supported it. But according to a new Pew study, the majority (57 percent) are in favor, while 39 percent are against. Interestingly, most women (60 percent) favor same-sex marriage, while half of men are opposed. Keep in mind these stats have evolved over nearly 20 years of Pew polling the issue.

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Political preferences also play a key role in our thinking. Though an identical percentage of Republicans (72 percent) and Democrats say it's "inevitable" same-sex marriage will become a reality, support tends to fall along party lines. Most Democrats (65 percent) and an identical percentage of Independents favor gay marriage, while only a third (34 percent) of Republicans do.

"Texans spoke loud and clear by overwhelmingly voting to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman in our Constitution," Rick Perry, the Republican governor of Texas, famously said last year. Here's where the candidates stand.

Ben Carson (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesScott Olson

The retired neurosurgeon has warned that changing the definition of marriage for one group will spur others to change it, too. Today he issued a statement saying, "While I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court's decision, their ruling is now the law of the land."

Lincoln Chafee (D): SUPPORTS

Getty ImagesWin McNamee

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The former senator and governor of Rhode Island may well be remembered as the last liberal Republican to serve in the Senate. In May 2013, he published an op-ed in the Timesexplaining his decision to sign marriage equality into law.

Hillary Clinton (D): SUPPORTS

Getty ImagesThomas Shea

When the Supreme Court announced its decision, she tweeted, "Proud to celebrate a historic victory for marriage equality—& the courage & determination of LGBT Americans who made it possible." Citing gay marriage as a "great human rights issue," Clinton issued a video supporting it after she left the state department in 2013.

Ted Cruz (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesMark Wilson

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The Texas senator has led the charge to deny gay couples the right to marriage.

Carly Fiorina (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesScott Olson

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Though she supported Indiana's controversial "religious freedom" law, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO believes same-sex couples have the right to ask government for marriage "benefits." She does not agree "that the Court can or should redefine marriage."

Lindsey Graham (R): OPPOSES

Mike Huckabee (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesScott Olson

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The former Arkansas governor is vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage, claiming it "threatens religious liberty." As he told MSNBC: "If the [liberal] Republicans want to lose guys like me and a whole bunch of still God-fearing, Bible-believing people, go ahead."

Bobby Jindal (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesSean Gardner

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This morning the Louisiana governor said, "Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that." He believes the decision "will pave an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree."

Martin O'Malley (D): SUPPORTS

Getty ImagesScott Olson

The Maryland governor has vowed to put his name on a bill that allows same-sex couples to wed.

George Pataki (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesDarren McCollester

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The former governor of New York believes marriage is best left for the states to decide.

Marco Rubio (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesWin McNamee

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The Republican senator from Florida prefers that the states handle marriage, not Congress.

Rand Paul (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesChip Somodevilla

Paul "believes in old-fashioned traditional marriage," but doesn't think the government should get involved.

Rick Perry (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesRichard Ellis

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The former Texas governor opposes same-sex marriage and has argued that states should decide for themselves how to deal with the issue.

Bernie Sanders (D): SUPPORTS

Getty ImagesLloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU

Today the Democratic senator from Vermont tweeted, "Today the Supreme Court fulfilled the words engraved upon its building: 'Equal justice under law.'" He also voted against the anti-gay marriage Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 and same-sex marriage has been legal in Vermont since 2009.

Rick Santorum (R): OPPOSES

Donald Trump (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesSteve Sands

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Telling Howard Stern "it's not my thing," Trump came out against gay marriage in 2013 and blamed Justice John Roberts for the Supreme Court's decision. "It's never been an argument that's been discussed with me very much." He also told Bill O'Reilly: ""I just don't feel good about it. I don't feel right about it. And I take a lot of heat because I come from New York."

Scott Walker (R): OPPOSES

Getty ImagesScott Olson

The governor of Wisconsin finally came out against gay marriage today, saying, "I believe this Supreme Court decision is a grave mistake."

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